The Irish standard., 1887-12-31

charms.
'Did you want me, granny said the
i girl, kneeling upon the sodded hoor,
beside the old woman's chair, Il was
out takin last look at the ould hill
God spare you your eyesight,
alanna.' said the old woman, stroking
her grand child's hair, If it was only
to come back and lo,k your fill upon
the hill of Tara. Please God you will,
please God you will. But you'll not
find me here, avourneen, the ould eyes
are growing dim this while back, and
my limbs stiff and heavy. Once they
were as feet as the deer, and these eyes
bright as the moruin' dew on the
flowers face. Gods will be done; but
1 it's hard to grow ould, and if it weren t
that we're looking forward to be ever
and ALWAYS young up yonder, these
poor hearts might repine, they might,
indeed.
Aileen sat thoughtful, her face wear
ing the shadow Of unspoken trouble,
but impressed with the resolution born
Of a deep set purpose. Her grand
mother, unsbseryant, wandered Oh in
the garrulity ofage:
You were lookin' at the hill of Tara.
said you? Well, it's grand spot and
there were mighty doin's upthere' III
the ancient days. Sure, it WAS there
that St. Patrick and the magician had
the trial by fire, the two Of them shut
up in house, built half Of green and
half Of dried wood, and the fire never
touched ST. Patrick, though he was in
the dry half, but shrivellsd up the ma
gician like a piece OF paper, though ne
was in the green half. Glory be to
God for The same. Wasn't it up there
that King Lugbardh Mac Con was Go
stroyed for giyin' false sentence, and
that the great Cormack left his instruc.
tions for princes and people. and oh,
holy Virgin, if his instructions had
been followed out, there's many an
deed would have been prevented, aud
and many a dark hour spared to poor
ould ireland. But sure, what's the use
OF us talkin'? The Lord knows best,
aud men often mar what the Providence
Of God strives to make, when they do
be meddliE' with His wise designs,
Praise be to Ills name. But as I Was
sayin' there were grad doin's upon
! Tara. There Wasa power Of girleens
put to Death in the haythen times by
some one with an outlandish name.
Myself dosen't know why or wherefore,
but heard tell that it was done!'
Meanwhile Aileen had scarce heard
q word, Her thoughts were far, i'll
dead, from Tara ard the host OF tradi-
tions which its name had evoked in the
old woman's mind. Suddenly her
grandmother addressed her directly:
Elise I'D ma colleen. and bring l,ither
yonder stool Aileen obeyed almost
mechanically, transferring from the
stool TO her own lap little bundle OF
clothing which lay upon it, and which
! she had made up in anticipation of the
morrow.
Give xne your hand. l held it first
when it was the dimp1ed fist OF new
born babe, Listen 10 me now. YOU'RE
going away from your own people to
live among strangers, but the Lord in
His mercy keep you fast to your faith,
to t}e ould faith Of Ireland. There's
queer notions goin' the day, or SO they
tell me. but look you neither to the
right nor to the left, but ask the pro,
lection of God and of His Holy Mother,
mornin', noon and night. Are you
listeniu to M?
II am, granny said the girl raising
her eyes, feverishly bright, to her
grandmother's face. L hear your
words, and I'll do your biddin.' Aye4
will in the dark, dark days that may
be before me-
'sWhisht, alanna, whisht." said the
old woman in surprise, ''that's quare
kind O. talk to be on your lips Oh the
eve of your weddin' day. Why, to
Judge you out Of your own mouth. you
ought to be the happiest girl in the
county
Sure ought, sure ought, granny.
said the girl with q half hystericai
laugh, lin coorse ought. Why isn't
he comely and STRAIGHT and tall, with
powers O money!
<.Aileen,' said her grandmother, who
had been regarding her with grave.
scrutiny, the dim old eyes peering
anxiouslv into the young aud bonny
face. what's this see here. You're
faii to LOOK upon, your cheeks like the
peach. your eyes like the wild fawn,
your mouth like the wild CHEEKY. but I
see pain aud sorrow where should see
the light of happiness It's solemn
thing you're doin', and a terrible one, if
all is not as it should be. If the love of
your heart
The love of my heart,' cried Aileen,
disengaglng her hand from her grand
mothers, and putting it hastily over her